Queen B’s Decree: Loved You Once was essentially a story with two major plot points.
First, we have this strange family dynamic. It almost feels oddly biblical in a sense – the father begets sons upon many. Hayes (our Hero) is the second oldest of this ragtag of brothers from multiple different mothers, and they all come together after the father’s death for the will reading. Oh and the father was a bazillionaire, so that makes it even more complicated. So the brothers have been mostly estranged from each other for years, so learning to become a family is a HUGE part of Loved You Once.
And then we have Blaire, whose heart was brutally broken by Hayes twelve years ago. Blaire gets invited to this will reading because she also happens to be the widow of Hayes’s brother. I know you just went “noooooo,” but believe me, I was worried about the weird triangle too but all is well. After their long separation, Hayes has his work cut out for him to win her back.
Loved You Once was angsty and emotional, and yet parts of it felt like almost a parody or caricature of romance novels today. Each brother was a different trope: doctor, billionaire boss, hockey player, musician, special ops military. And they are all billionaires. It just took it a little too far in the believability and enjoyment for me.
Book: Loved You Once by Claudia Burgoa
Series: The Baker’s Creek Billionaire Brothers #1
Genre: Contemporary
Hotness: mild salsa
Plot Devices/Tropes: second chance